Gowanda Small Town Times

The following local Jamestown Community College students were placed on the part-time Dean’s List for academic excellence during the fall 2022 semester.

To be eligible for the part-time Dean’s List, a student must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.50 or better while enrolled in 6-11 degree hours.

Collins: Bryan Zynda

Gowanda: Ashley Burch, Autumn-Raine Pierce, Delaney Rotoli

The Winter Sports season ended for Gowanda on February 21. Both the boys and girls Varsity basketball teams saw their seasons end in Class C pre-quarterfinal action. The Gowanda boys, seeded 13, were at 12-seed JFK while the 11-seed Gowanda girls traveled to #6 Frewsburg.

The boys game was quite close until the very end. As had been the case for the last few games of the regular season, Gowanda’s career 1000-point scorer, John Ondus, did not dress for the game. JFK went up 4-0 early. Gowanda tied it at 4 and things stayed tight for most of the period. Late in the 1st quarter, after JFK had taken a 15-14 lead with a pair of fouls shots, a Tyler Smith 3-pointer put Gowanda back in front. The Gowanda lead was 19-15 when Quentin Centner was fouled putting the ball up from long distance. The official put one second back on the clock and gave Centner three chances from the foul line. He hit on all three and Gowanda was up 22-15 going to the 2nd quarter. A slow down in Gowanda’s production allowed JFK to move a bit closer. By half time, Gowanda’s lead had slipped to 34-30.

JFK opened the scoring in the 3rd quarter making it a 2-point game. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Centner had Gowanda back in control 40-32. JFK again slowly worked their way back. With 43 seconds left in the quarter, JFK finally pulled into a tie at 45-45. There was a huge momentum shift at that point. JFK scored twice more before the end of the period, including a basket at the buzzer. Gowanda was in total disarray in a final quarter that was full of bad passes and off-target shots. That along with a pair of JFK 3-point baskets, put Gowanda in a 65-51 hole. Gowanda stopped the slide but couldn’t close the gap. Gowanda’s Cole Herman closed out the scoring with a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left, but the team was still handed a 68-57 loss.

Leading the Gowanda attack were Quentin Centner (25 points) and Tyler Smith (11 points). Alex Pachucinski had 7 points. Also scoring for Gowanda were Cole Herman, Ruben Rivera, Victor Rivera and Blake Herman. The Gowanda boys closed their season at 8-13.

The Gowanda girls faced Frewsburg, a team they had just hosted in the last regular season game. The lack of confidence that had plagued he team for most of the season was again on full display. Sloppy passing and a lack of willingness to take shots were costly. This was all further aggravated by several in-and-out shot in the early going. Gowanda was down 17-9 after one quarter and 36-17 at halftime. Gowanda was pounded 25-7 in the 3rd quarter putting them in a huge 61-24 hole going to the final quarter. Frewsburg coasted to a 65-31 win from that point. Gowanda’s effort was led by Aurora Stevens with 15 points. Crissa Scanlan had 8 points. The Gowanda girls closed their season at 6-13.

The Historic Hollywood Theater in Gowanda, New York has been silent so far this year. Concerns about weather possibly interfering with events caused them to avoid scheduling anything in January or February. Even so, they have still been busy planning a busier schedule of events heading into Spring.

World renowned organist Dennis James will be back on March 25th as the theater’s silent movie series returns for another year. Shortly after that, on March 30, the Gowanda High School chorus brings their Cabaret Concert back to the Hollywood for a second year.

A busy and diverse April follows starting with “The Grand Illusion” performing the music of Styx on April 15. Then, on April 21 and 22, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” will be presented. This musical theater production is strictly intended for adults. April continues with the Gowanda Central School Art Show at the theater on April 26. The Hollywood will close out April celebrating Willie Nelson ’s 90th birthday with a Willie Nelson Tribute concert on the 29th.

Classic rock is featured in May with a pair of bands coming to the Hollywood. On May 6 there will be “A Tribute to Tom Petty”. Closing out May, on the 27th, “Green River” brings the songs of CCR and John Fogerty to Gowanda.

The Nickel City Opera brings a full production of “The Barber of Seville” to the theater on June 25. This production was initially scheduled for Friday, the 23rd. Once it was realized that the date conflicted with high school graduation, the show was moved to the Sunday date.

The annual Hollywood Theater Drama Camp returns in August. Then, on September 9, “A Night of Classic Country Music” will be staged. This promises to bring the songs of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and more!

Heading into Fall, two classic bands are scheduled to make a return visit to Gowanda. September 30 brings in “Eaglez” with their tribute to “The Eagles”. Then, the audio-visual extravaganza that is “The Floyd Concept” returns on October 7. One other band just recently began planning an October 21 visit to the Hollywood. They will fill the building with the music of “Foreigner”.

The schedule is constantly evolving. The latest updates and ticket information can always be found on the Hollywood Theater website at https://www.gowandahollywoodtheater.com/upcoming.

On February, 13, the Gowanda Varsity boys basketball team closed out their regular season schedule at Randolph. Coming in, Randolph was ranked #1 in both Section 6 Class C and the CCAA East 1. So, it was a daunting challenge. Randolph cruised by Gowanda in a game that saw them land 17 3-pointers. Down 17-7 after the first quarter, Gowanda was pounded 32-10 in the second bring the halftime score to 49-17. It was much of the same in the second half leading to a final score of 91-37. Leading Gowanda was Quentin Centner with four 3-pointers and a total of 23 points. Tyler Smith was a distant second with 5 points.

On February 15, the Gowanda Varsity girls basketball team ended their regular season hosting Frewsburg in a make-up game. A terrible 1st quarter put Gowanda in an early 26-9 hole that they couldn’t work their way out of. Over the next two quarters, Frewsburg outpaced Gowanda, but only by a 31-26 margin. It was still enough to allow Frewsburg to cruise to a 75-45 victory. The game was marred my many extremely questionable calls many of which went against Gowanda in the first half. One official called Gowanda twice for technical fouls for simply questioning some calls. He also stopped the game at one point to argue with Gowanda fans who were reacting with reserved disapproval to some calls. Gowanda’s total of 45 points was their second highest of the season. Leading Gowanda were Crissa Scanlan and Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens with 14 points each. Stevens had two 3-pointers in that effort. Scanlan’s production was limited by being severely mugged every time she touched the ball under the basket forcing her to spend a lot of time shooting foul shots, when fouls were actually called. Aurora Stevens also scored in double digits for Gowanda with 11 points.

February 15 was also the girls bowling Sectionals at Airport Lanes. Gowanda was one of 22 teams in Division 2 to compete. Maryvale took 1st place with 5124 pins. In 14th Place was Gowanda with 4089. Top three bowlers for the Gowanda girls were Aubrey Smuda (119, 149, 183, 158, 167, 171/947), Demetra Spire (127, 136, 168, 129, 124, 195/879) and Sierra (Twoguns 113, 110, 136, 109, 178, 124/770).

On Thursday, February 16, it was the boys bowling Sectionals, again, at Airport Lanes. Taking 1st Place in Division 2 was West Seneca East with 5964 pins. Gowanda finished 16th with 4594. The Gowanda boys were led by Drew Shull (178, 179, 200, 142, 168, 183/1050) and Nicholas Smuda (156, 193, 185, 135, 175, 160/1004).

The 4th Annual Women`s Intersectional Invitational Championships were held on Saturday, February 18. Gowanda was one of 9 schools attending the event. Two Gowanda girls made Top 3 in their weight class. They were Ke’ya Stevens (at 132) taking 2nd Place and Kiernan Quinn (at 145) taking 3rd Place.

On February 15 and 16, the Section VI Boys Swimming Championships / State Qualifiers were held at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, NY. Niagara Wheatfield took 1st Place with a score of 233.6. In 4th Place with a score of 172.0 was Eden. Down at 35th Place was Akron with 64.7. Neither of the two Gowanda boys swimming for Eden were represented in the team scoring.

The Gowanda cheerleaders were scheduled to compete at Iroquois on February 15 and at the Sectionals on February 18. It has now been reported that the Gowanda squad placed 5th at Iroquois and 8th at Starpoint for Section VI D2 Small Varsity.

Boys Basketball 8-12

Monday, February 13

Boys Basketball at Randolph
Gowanda 37, Randolph 91

Girls Basketball 6-12, 2-8

Wednesday, February 15

Girls Basketball vs. Frewsburg
Gowanda 45, Frewsburg 75

Wrestling 1-4

Saturday, February 18

4th Annual Women`s Intersectional Invitational Championship (9 schools)
Ke’ya Stevens 2nd place at 132 pounds
Kiernan Quinn 3rd place at 145 pounds

Bowling boys 12-4, girls 7-7

Wednesday, February 15

Girls Bowling Sectionals(7-7)Airport Lanes
Division 2
1st Maryvale 5124
14th Gowanda 4089
22nd Research Lab 2720

Thursday, February 16

Boys Bowling Sectionals (12-4)
Division 2 (22 teams)
1st West Seneca East 5964
16th Gowanda 4594
22nd Leonardo da Vinci 2754

Cheerleading

Wednesday, February 15

at Iroquois
Gowanda 5th in Section VI D2 Small Varsity

Saturday, February 18

at Starpoint
Gowanda 8th in Section VI D2 Small Varsity

Swimming 7-4

Feb 15-16

Section VI Boys Championships / State Qualifier
at Alumni Arena Buffalo, NY
1st Niagara Wheatfield 233.6
4th Eden/Gowanda 172.0
35th Akron 64.7